Denbigh Town Walls

In the community of Denbigh.
In the historic county of Denbighshire (Modern authority of Denbighshire, preserved county of Clwyd).

Small irregular area on strong site. One good double-towered gatehouse, two round towers, and one square one, near which is a spur-work, capped by a beaked tower, giving access to a well. Denbigh town walls were erected from 1282, concurrent with the castle, with which they formed a single arhitectural and defensive unit. Constructed of uncoursed flush-faced limestone rubble with sandstone quoining. Section of enceinte from NE to S comprises the NE and Bastion towers, the rectangualr Countess' Tower, and the polygonal Goblin Tower. Damaged during the Civil War, the Goblin Tower stands 15m high, with a battered plinth on N side, and irregular openings to each face.

This site has been described as a;
Urban Defence.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Major remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
This site is a Listed but grading unknown listed building protected by law*.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SJ05276583

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

National Monuments Record number; 94723

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 101961 et al

• Web site links
  • http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp?id=6&PlaceID=61
    http://www.castlewales.com/bastide.html
• Books
  • Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p27, 28, 29, 30, 98, 128, 139, 140, 147, 204, 217, 226, 245, 267, 274
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p65-6
    Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles of North Wales (Malvern) p64-5
    Bond, C.J., 1987, 'Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Defences', in Schofield, J. and Leech, R. (eds) Urban Archaeology in Britain (CBA Research Report) p92-116
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p106
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p347
    Barley M.W., 1975, 'Town Defences in England and Wales after 1066' in Barley (ed) Medieval Towns in England and Wales (CBA research reports) pp57-71
    Turner, H.L., 1971, Town Defences in England and Wales (London) p213-6
    RCAHMW, 1914, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Denbighshire (HMSO) p40-1
    Gee. T., 1829. An Account of the Castle and Town of Denbigh
• Journal Articles
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
    Ayrton, 1855-62, Chester Arcitectural, Archaeological and History Society Vol2 p53-5
• Guidebooks
  • Butler, L.A.S., 1990. Denbigh Castle (CADW)
    Butler, L.A.S., 1976, Denbigh Castle, Town Walls and Friary, Clwyd (HMSO)
    Radford, C.A.R., 1935, Denbigh Castle (HMSO) p29-32
    Hemp, W.J., Denbigh Castle (HMSO)
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/glameng.html#denb3]
    Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1910, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (Bell and Sons; London) Vol3 p96-7